Kahrizak doctor dead; First Lady makes speech in Rome

Following Friday's reported suicide of Ramin Pourandarjani, a 26-year-old physician resident at Kahrizak detention center, Norooz News reported that new details of the case have come to light.

According to Norooz, Pourandarjani died on Tuesday in the health ward at Tehran Police headquarters. Officials cited his cause of death as a heart attack in his sleep.

The young physician, who was serving his post-graduate mandatory term of public service, had performed examinations of torture victims at Kahrizak detention center. One of his patients was Mohsen Rouholamini, a post-election detainee and son of a prominent conservative politician who died in prison. Pourandarjani had visited Rouholamini two days before his death and reportedly grew aware of the extent of torture practiced on the young man, according to the reformist website.

A week later, Pourandarjani was arrested and pressured to announce that his patient died as a result of "meningitis." This is while the official coroner's report cited "repeated blows to the head" as the cause of death.

Pourandarjani was released but interrogated several times by the investigation unit of NAJA [the police force], the martial court, and the Physician General's regulatory council. Due to the fact of his knowledge of the details of the happenings at Kahrizak detention center, the physician was accosted several times by unknown persons who threatened him to keep silent about what he had witnessed there.

Before his death, Pourandarjani recounted the events at Kahrizak for a small number of his friends. He had also shared with them that he feared for his safety. Not long after, he was reported dead.

Although the cause of death has been announced as a heart attack, authorities have prohibited his family from performing an autopsy. His funeral in the northern city of Tabriz took place under strict security measures. These unusual circumstances raise questions about the cause of the Kahrizak physician's sudden death.

Iran's first lady has made a rare public appearance and even more rare, a speech, at a Rome forum on the eve of a U.N. summit to fight hunger.

The wife of Iranian Mahmoud Ahmadinejad almost never appears in public with her husband and is believed never to have previously addressed a public gathering.

First Lady Azam al-Sadat Farahi came to a forum of wives of heads of state on Sunday. The summit on strategy to fight world hunger begins Monday at the Rome headquarters of the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization.

Farahi wrapped a black chador tightly about her as she sat among first wives. She made some remarks at the forum, which was led by Suzanne Mubarak, wife of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. Photo credit: AP/Pier Paolo Cito

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16 Comments

Heart attack? Really? Heart attack? Who are they kidding? Keep reporting the truth. The truth will set you free.

Tracy / November 15, 2009 11:25 PM

It would be interesting to know more background on the First Ladies of Iran and Egypt. Based on the fact that their husbands are dictators I would love to ask them their view on human rights.

Human_Rights / November 16, 2009 12:11 AM

What's her business here? she should respond to people of Iran, more than 40% of people are in hunger and below the poverty line. The dictators should not be allowed to participate in such forums. shame!

Irani / November 16, 2009 4:02 AM

"First lady"...what a title. I am in Iranian woman who grew up in Iran since these damn dictators came to rule by force and since I remember we lived under terror...she is the "last lady"...she does not represent my country. She does not represent my culture! she does not represent me! No wonder they re trying to steal our identity...to impose their idiotic life style on the beautiful Persian culture...sure they have lost this ugly game...but at costs of many innocent lives...anybody involved in anyway with this system being on power, has done murderous crimes against humanity...Please DON'T CALL THIS IDIOT "FI..LADY". Who the hell she is? this is the first time I am seeing her...this is big insult to all Iranian women!!!!

nia / November 16, 2009 4:59 AM

I will pray for the souls of Mohsen Rouholamini and Ramin Pourandarzjani, and for their families and friends. It is a terrible shame and waste, to take bright young people and abuse them to death. Iran's government is killing the country's future with these
murders.

Peg / November 16, 2009 5:37 AM

Human_Rights inquirer: Behind every great man there is a great woman.I think I have answered your question. Long live freedom. Death to the Islamic Republic.

Amiri R. / November 16, 2009 7:30 AM

I will pray for the souls of Mohsen Rouholamini and Ramin Pourandarzjani, and for their families and friends. It is a terrible shame and waste, to take bright young people and abuse them to death. Iran's government is killing the country's future with these
murders.

Peg / November 16, 2009 9:11 AM

Suicide by heart attack? Hmm? that's a new one. 26, healthy, fit, nothing reportedly in his life that would cause him to kill himself. Threats on his life and the family denied an autopsy?! People are not stupid and it causes me great anger and disappointment that someone would even try and run Death by sucide/Heart attack in his sleep as a cause of death? How about Death by injection ib his sleep which looks like heart attack but is really murder and not suicide. Keep searching the truth.

Colden / November 16, 2009 9:39 PM

Islamic Republic prepare some people to do some secret tasks, if they fail to be prepared they kill those people,like this poor doctor.

Faraz Amiralaei / November 16, 2009 10:09 PM

What a shame.
I know of other physicians who are suffering severe psychological disturbances witnessing these daily horrific crimes against the talented intelectuals and educated individuals in our society.
My sincere condolences to the brave people of Iran.
I solute you for reporting the truth, so this inhumane and barbaric regime is further exposed to the world.

Parastoo / November 16, 2009 11:06 PM

It is so clear and open that the present Iranian regime is copying KGB styles of killings. It so obviouse that this wonderful young 26 years old Iranian medical doctor did not die of heart attack. Shame to the keillers of our wonderful Persian youths who died in the hands of of so called Islamic criminals. Now we see our enemies, and how much they are ready to kill before they are toppled.

Mehran / November 17, 2009 2:02 AM

Islamic regime in Iran is a very dom student of international adventurers those who use the old Stalinist and fascistic methods in terror of innocent people and let it seems as suicide of accident. Dr; Ramin Pourarzanjani, who was in militery service working as doctor in turtureplace of Kahrizak, according the islamic regime commited suicide.The regime killed him and for us he is a MARTAYER as like as 100 thousands other martyers in Iran whom where for freedom,peace, humanrights and against Lie,cheating and forces of darkness which politicians with big smile spread and get Noble prize for that.The Highest Thought and Iranian sun(love) be our guide and protector.

Elias Soltani / November 17, 2009 11:23 PM

Heart Attack???!!!!!!!!!!!! Why they think that we are stupid? Or do they think that they are the smartest ones to cover their crimes??? Shit on all of those dictators and torturers.

Fist lady???!!!! I would call her *** LADY...Does she ever know what hunger mean????!!!! Shame on her.

Kimia / November 18, 2009 1:37 AM

Islamic Criminals of IRAN will kill without hesitation to keep people silent, this is known to the world now and let it be known they will kill to stay in power. The sons and daughters of IRAN will continue to stand up more and more for their rights until they get their country back from these wanna be Arabs. This is another Arab take over of IRAN and will come to an end soon, just like the first when they didn't allow the people of IRAN to speak their language Parsi for years.

Long Live Freedom, Long Live IRAN and the freedom fighters of IRAN.

Persian / November 19, 2009 11:46 PM

Shame, shame, shame.

Neil / November 20, 2009 11:27 PM

Death to the Barbaric Islamic Republic.I stand with all my brothers to bring it down and bury it for ever.